RMJ 17 March 3

MONDAY, MARCH 3 ● Kissimmee, vs St. Louis

We open the regular season with 13 games against the Braves and Cardinals. This will be quite a test. And for me, quite a challenge, going against two of the managing legends of the sport: Bobby Cox and Tony La Russa. One writer, Jim Maloney, asked me how I felt about that. I said that I was glad the Braves came first.

“Bobby Cox is a low-key, even-keel kind of guy,” I said. “His team may kick our asses, but he won’t throw down the gauntlet, like La Russa.”

I’ve seen a lot of good competitors in my day, and there is no stereotypical personality trait. As a pitcher, I was deadpan all the way — no emotion. My teammate Don Wilson liked to challenge the other team. He would yell at them and throw pitches at them. The angrier they got, the madder he got — and the better he pitched.

I think La Russa has some of the Don-Wilson-style competitor in his bloodstream. He’s also one of the finest managers in the business.

As we prepared to play the Redbirds, our nemesis team from the year before (2-13), I asked their beat writer, Rick Hummel, about this theory.

“I think he tries to get the guys stirred up,” Rick said. “He likes to make it seem like the whole world is against his team. Then he calls for a circling of the wagons.

“I have to hand it to him. At first, the players weren’t buying it, but they’re with him now.”

I have to admit, I am not a fan of this contentious approach. I prefer the more-civilized style of Cox. I’m going to have to deal with both. The Cardinals came calling today, and we visit the Braves tomorrow.

Hummel asked for my reaction to something La Russa said earlier this spring, to the effect that the Cardinals were the champions of the Central Division and that they weren’t going to give up the crown without a fight.

Ray Knight, the manager of the Reds, cut out the article, highlighted the quote, and displayed it in the Reds’ locker room.

I never saw the exact quote; I only read about Knight’s reaction. To me, it’s sort of juvenile — like pro wrestling. I don’t care what these guys say, unless they single us out.

“It doesn’t bother me a bit,” I told Hummel. “If he starts calling us names, that may be different.”

But this whole La Russa psychological-warfare routine does bother me. I didn’t like it as a pitcher when a beanball contest developed. I did, however, have to deal with it. If I have to deal with it this year, I’ll do my best. But it is not what I would choose.

Ray Knight likes to fight. I’ve seen him in action a few times, and he’s pretty good at it. Perhaps the war between the Reds and the Cards will become as famous as the War of the Roses.

I hope they leave us out of it — and that they battle for second place.

           

Today I met La Russa at home plate. He wore a disarming smile, and we talked briefly about mutual acquaintances.

The Cardinals thumped us with a nine-run inning. I doubt they will see either of the pitchers they saw in that frame when the regular season begins.

I had Bill Virdon relay the signs to Cubby at third base. I kept the lineup card and made the appropriate changes.

I pulled my first double-switch in a five-player changeover in the fifth inning. It worked pretty well, but I could have gained more octane by switching two other positions in the batting order.

Later, I needed to make a double-switch to prevent the pitcher from hitting when we were behind. I couldn’t figure out how do it quickly enough, and Billy Wagner did indeed have to hit, so he could get his two innings in.

I could have easily avoided that scenario by changing catchers when I changed pitchers, but no matter how I studied the card — and I did study it — I couldn’t figure it out. From the booth, I could have done it in a flash. This aspect of lineup changes is going to be a little more challenging that I thought.        

When the Cardinals come calling on the first homestand, I expect a charged atmosphere. It will be light-years away from The Big Bamboo.